What’s it about?
As the Civil War continues to rage, America’s president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield and as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.

What did we think?
Anthony says: I cannot tell a lie: Lincoln the movie is more about the American politic system than it is about slavery. Which for me – a polititragic and history buff – was great. But to be frank, for the average person – particularly non-US citizens – this movie is going to feel unnecessarily long. Early on you’d be forgiven for thinking the writing process consisted of getting his most memorable quotes and finding ways to link them together. And the result of the political vote was drawn out longer than an American Idol verdict. Seriously.

But an amazing cast means both acting of the highest quality and the chance to play “who’s that behind that facial hair?”. Day Lewis is superb in the titular role and I found myself engrossed in the film though the friend I took with me said the movie should have been a quarter of the length. It does feel more like a movie made to win awards through patriotism and high production values rather than for the sake of telling the story but I enjoyed it.

If the idea of a 19th century version of The West Wing appeals to you then see it.

MY personal rating: 4
My general score: 3.5

What’s It About?
Only one man could have saved the passengers of Flight 227, and the survivors are grateful that Captain “Whip” Whitaker is on board when their plane suffers catastrophic equipment failure. The problem is, Whip is an alcoholic with a penchant for cocaine, and before he gets into the cabin, he’s higher than the plane will ever get.

What Did We Think?
Stephen Scott says: Flight asks a simple question: how do you measure a man”s worth? By his deeds or by his honesty?

It’s a tumultuous journey that just happens to include a plane ride that will give your sphincter its exercise for the day. Flight is more a parable about being true to yourself than air crash investigations. Thankfully, Denzel Washington’s nuanced performance of a man in a terminal downward spiral is entrancing. Without his strong performance, Flight could easily have gone straight to video.

The music, while outstanding (The Rolling Stones & R&B classics), is used a little heavy handedly. But the direction, effects & supporting actors are high quality. A good movie, but not a great one.

What’s it about?
Pat (Bradley Cooper) is sprung from a court-ordered stint in a mental facility. He is determined to get his life back on track, stay positive, and reunite with his wife. Unfortunately his bipolar disorder and, shall we say, “musically triggered anger management issues” get in the way, as does young firecracker Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence).

What did we think?
Liz says: It’s the masterful performances that give Playbook its silver lining, and it’s not only the chemistry between Cooper and Lawrence that sizzles. The intricately written characters are dysfunctional fragments of a puzzle that, alone, seem lost and purposeless; when placed together they form a beautifully raw and vulnerable portrait of what it is to be human.  The plot suffers from occasional pacing issues, but the actors have created characters so damn compelling that they rope you in and implore you to care, whether you were with them the whole way or not. They’re crazy good, quite literally.

What’s it about?
Before the outbreak of the American Civil War, slave Django (Jamie Foxx) meets dentist/bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). Schultz frees Django and agrees to help him rescue his wife (Kerry Washington) from the clutches of seedy plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his sly house slave (Samuel L. Jackson). Also, racism.

What did we think?
Mitch says: Q-ball has done well everything he usually does well, and done poorly some things he usually does well, too. The humour and pacing is there – for the first half . Then Django transitions into territory that is dangerously close to being an outright two-dimensional mute.

I’ll skirt past the elephant in the room – the debate over whether Tarantino’s use of slavery and racism in pre-Civil War America amounts to anything meaningful or is just thinly veiled exploitation – because otherwise we’ll be here all day. Essentially, it’s the second one. And it’s violent as hell.

That said, Waltz, Foxx and DiCaprio are excellent and Tarantino has delivered a fitting tribute to the Westerns of old, soaked in irony and a genuine respect for the genre. It’s glorious, but no Inglourious.

What’s it about?
A talented chemical engineer is about to embark on a business trip across America to sell his new product. After a brief stop in to visit his heartbroken mum ,he invites her along hoping to reunite her with her new boyfriend.

What we think?
Elodie says: It reads more like a horror movie – a road trip with your mother! While the nagging might be a deterrent for some, Seth Rogan and Barbra Streisand work well together. Streisand’s overprotectiveness and the duo’s light banter fuels their journey across America in a way that’s entertaining enough albeit cliched. Light enough fare but I was reminded of my own sentimental moments as I left the theatre. Sometimes you have to smile and take their pestering as love – in fact, bring your mum along with you to see it.

What’s it about?
Gladiator pursues Wolverine who takes in a dying Catwoman’s daughter (Red Riding Hood) after liberating her from Borat and the mad woman from every second Johnny Depp movie.

What did we think?
Anthony says: Fans of the story will leave satisfied though diehard musical nuts will shudder a bit at the inconsistent quality when they hear the people sing. There are minor quibbles, but at the end of the day you can’t complain about a reasonably faithful screen adaptation. Fans unfamiliar with the musical may leave a little exhausted but I’m sure I’m not on my own when I say it was fun without being exceptional.